Yankees' Mike Mussina shelled vs. Astros in first spring appearance

Giving up five runs over two-plus innings is generally a cause for concern for a pitcher. Unless that outing takes place in the first week of March, of course.

To say that Mike Mussina was pleased with his performance against the Astros Monday would be inaccurate, but it's not as though the veteran starter was broken up, either. For Mussina, this is simply the first of six spring starts designed to have him ready for the first week of April.

"I'm not in pitching shape yet," Mussina said, a bag of ice on his 39-year-old arm. "You don't just jump back out there and have it right back the way it was. It's frustrating, because I felt good enough to throw better than that. I just didn't pitch very well." Continue